Safety razor



N 1933- L. s. CHADWICK SAFETY RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1932 Nov. 7, 1933. L. s. CHADWICK SAFETY RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 7, 1932 fl///// m Nov. 7, 1 s. CHADWICK SAFETY RAZOR Filed June 7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT FICE Claims.

This invention is an improved safety razor that is similar in principle to that which constitutes the subject matter of my Letters Patent No. 1,867,905, dated July 19, 1932, and like the former razor is primarily intended for use with a holder for fresh blades and a receiver for used blades, the razor being of such a nature that by merely applying it to a blade in the holder the blade will be initially attached to the razor (thereafter to be clamped between the face plate and guard by a manipulation of the mechanism incorporated in the razor) and by engaging the blade with stripper means associated with the receiver (after the aforesaid mechanism has been adjusted to expose the blade) the blade may be removed and deposited in the receiver, all without having to touch the blade with the fingers.

The principal objects of my present invention are to simplify and cheapen the razor without sacrificing quality or any of the more important advantages of the prior invention; to produce a quick acting mechanism for operating the blade clamping members; more limitedly, to provide a mechanism involving a lever by which it is manipulated that enables the razor to be held and operated by one hand, if desired; and, yet more specifically, to provide a neat and compact construction of which many of the parts are metal stampings.

A further object is to provide, in a razor of the above nature, a simple and convenient adjustment for regulating the curvature of the flexible blade.

Objects and advantages additional to the foregoing will appear as I proceed to describe the invention in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figs. 1 and 2 are elevational views, taken at right angles to each other, of my improved safety razor; Figs. 3 and 4 are like views, similarly related, of the body porion or body member of the razor; Figs. 5 and 6 are similar detailed views of the face plate yoke; Figs. '7 and 8 are like views of the lever by means of which the face plate yoke is moved with respect to the body portion or member; Fig. 9 is an elevational view of one of the pair of links by which the lever operatively connected to the face plate yoke; Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the razor, viewed as in Fig; 2, with the parts in normal position and the adjacent link broken away to reveal certain details of the lever and its co-acticn with the pivot on the face plate yoke; Figs. 11 and 12 are.views,.

similar to Fig. 10, with the near link removed,

. showing, respectively, the parts in intermediate position, and in the position they occupy when the face plate is farthest from the guard; Fig. 13 a transverse section through the handle of the razor on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10; Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of the razor in which an adjustment is provided for varying the distance between the face plate and guard and consequently the curvature of the flexible blade, and Figs. 15 and 16 are sections on the respective lines 15-15 and 16-16 of Fig. 14.

The body portion or body member of the razor, designated generally by the reference numeral 1, and shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, consists of an elongated element that is divided intermediate its ends, by shoulders 2, into a relatively thick portion 3 and aportion 4. that is considerably less in thickness and with respect to the longitudinal axis of which the portion 3 is symmetrical.

Carried by the outer end of the portion 4 of the body member is a guard 5 of usual form, and projecting from the front face of said guard, midway of its length, is a slightly undercut stud 6 to which a razor blade '7 of conventional form is adapted to be applied as by forcing the stud through the central aperture of the blade, the material of the blade surrounding the aperture yielding in the process of attachment, the same as disclosed in my patent above referred to. Positioning means 8 project from the guard on opposite sides of the stud and cooperate with slots in the blade to properly position the latter.

A face plate 10, recessed on its inner side to accommodate the stud 6 and positioning means 8, is arranged for cooperation with the guard and the same is incorporated in a yoke like structure that is referred to generally by the reference character 11. This yoke like structure includes side branches that extend inwardly from the ends of the-face plate about the ends of the guard and toward each other until in proximity to the portion e of the body member 1 from where they continue in parallel relation along the opposite sides of'said portion and terminate in the region of the shoulders 2.

The side branches, designated 12, of the yoke 11 have substantially the same profile as the portion 4 of the body member and to one side of the central, longitudinal plane of the yoke 11, each branch 12 is provided with a circular bearing aperture 13 from which a relatively narrow slot 14 extends forwardly, the same having sides that are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis ofthe yoke. On the other side of the aforesaid plane, the branches are equipped with outwardly projecting pivots 15. Each of these pivots 15 is reduced at its outer end to pro-- vide a bearing 16, inwardly of which there is a head 1'1, and these pivots are formed in this man-' ner for a purpose which will presently appear. Stability is imparted to the yoke 11 by a tie 18 that connects the branches 12 beyond one edge of the body portion or member 1 in the region of departure of said branches from the body member.

Oblong fulcrums 20 extend from opposite sides of the body portion or member 1 into the bearing apertures 13 of the yoke 11, the greater dimension of which is approximately the same as the diameter of the bearing apertures 13 and the lesser dimension of which is substantially equal to the width of the slots 14, the lateral sides of said fulcrums being parallel, while the ends are preferably curved on a radius which is practically the same as that of the apertures 13. The fulcruzns may be formed by the ends of a member that is extended through a hole in the body portion 1.

22 is a lever that is made up of opposed parallel side plates 23 that are connected together at one end by a finger piece 24. This lever preferably consists of a metal stamping, and the material in the region of the junction between the finger piece 24 and the side plates 23 is crimped and I projected laterally beyond the plane of the side pieces so that said finger piece is wider than the major portion of the lever, as shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 3. Pivots 25 extend from opposite sides of the portion 3 of the body member 1 and occupy bearing apertures in the side plates of the lever 22, the outer ends of the pivots being flush with the corresponding surfaces of said side plates. Extending outwardly from the ends of the side plates of lever 22 remote from the finger piece 24 are pivots 26, and links 27 connect the pivots 26 with the bearings 16 of pivots 15 on the yoke 11.

It is to be observed that the thicknesses of the branches 12 of the yoke 11 make up the difference between the thickness of the portion 3 and that of portion 4 of the body member 1 so that the outer surfaces of the inner ends of said branches and of the portion 3 are in the same plane. The depth of the heads 17 of the pivots 15 is substantially equal to the thickness of the side plates 23 of the lever 22, so that the bearing portion 16 of said pivots 15 is in the plane of the pivots 26. It will be noted, also, that the outer ends of the pivots 15 and 26 do not protrude beyond the surfaces of the links 27. When the parts are in normal position, as shown in Fig. 10, the pivots 15 are accommodated by notches 28 in the side plates of the lever 22, and said notches are formed to engage over the heads 17 of said pivots and, preferably, to effect contact therewith of the overhanging hook-like portions of the lever so as to lock the yoke 11 inwardly with the blade '7 clamped between the face plate 10 and the guard 5. This cooperation between the lever and the pivots 15, however, is a secondary matter in the present preferred embodiment of the invention. The actual locking of the face plate inwardly is desirably effected by the throwing of the links 2'7 over center" with respect to the lever 22. This maybe better explained by pointing out that when a straight line between the pivots of the link (represented by the dotted line a) passes the pivotal axis of the lever, the parts are held under tension through the recoil tendency of the deformed resilient blade 7.

The working parts that are within the area of the links 27, when such parts are in normal condition, are concealed by a handle '30 having a tubular end portion 31 that is pressed tightly over the reduced inner end of the portion 3 of the body member 1. If found desirable, suitable means may be employed for positively fastening the handle to the body member.

The manner in which the razor cooperates with the holder for fresh blades in initially attaching a blade to the guard 5, and how it coacts with the stripper associated with the receiver for k 56i blades in the removal of a blade from the guardall of which will be readily understood from the disclosure of the patent hereinbefore identified-requires that the face plate 10 be moved toward and from the guard while in confronting relation thereto, and that it be swung from such position to one along side and to the rear of the guard. The manner in which this is accomplished is evident from Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

With the razor grasped by its handle in the fingers of one hand, for example, and in a position with the finger piece 24 of the lever away from the user, the protruding side portion of said finger piece may be engaged by the thumb and, through pressure of the thumb thereon, the lever may be swung to one side, as in Fig. 11. This operation, through the links 27, advances the yoke 11 along the body member 1 until the face plate is spaced a material distance from the guard, as well as from the blade that is attached thereto by the stud 6, the blade in the meantime having relaxed to a straight condition. By this movement of the yoke, the bearing apertures 14 are brought into concentricity with the curved ends of the fulcrums 20. Now as the le ver is further manipulated, as by means of the first finger to swing it to the position shown in Fig. 12, the yoke 11, through the intervention of the links 27, is swung to one side. With the parts in this condition, the used blade may be readily disengaged from the guard, as by means of a stripper associated with the receiver for used blades, as above explained, and the guard may then be presented to a fresh blade in a holder provided for the purpose and the blade attached to the guard by forcing the stud 6 through the aperture in the blade. With a fresh blade thus attached to the guard, the parts are returned to normal position. This may be conveniently accomplished by holding the razor in the hand with the lever toward the user and, after swinging the yoke forwardly to dispose the face plate in confronting relation to the guard, at the same time partially retract the lever through such movement of the yoke, the finger piece of the lever may be engaged by the thumb and pressed to normal position to draw the face plate inwardly to clamp the blade between it and the guard.

Some users of razors of the general type of the one herein disclosed and in which flexible blades are employed, desire an adjustment between the face plate and guard by virtue of which the transverse curvature of the blade may be varied, the degree of curvature determining the closeness of the shave. Means for accomplishing this adjustment are included in the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16.

An axial bore 33 extends through the thicker portion 3 of the body member 1 and registers with a slot 34 in the portion P. The bore 33, adjacent the inner endof the body member, is counterbored, as shown at 35, to receive an enlargement 36 of a spindle 3"! that extends through the bore 33 and slot 34. The spindle is equipped with a knurled head 38 that is situated beyond the inner end of the tubular portion 31 of the handle. A screw 39, that is threaded through a hole in the handle, has an extension that projects through a bore in the body member and into an annular groove 40 in the enlargement 36 of the spindle to hold the latter against longitudinal movement with respect to the body member. The end of the spindle remote from the head 38 is threaded for engagement within a tapped hole 41 in a boss 42 on the inner side of the guard 5 of the body member on opposite sides of the slot 34 are slidably engaged. By turning the head 38 the spindle 37 may be rotated to adjust the guard 5 toward and from the face plate 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A safety razor comprising a body portion incorporating a guard at one end and a handle at the other, a face plate connected to an intermediate part of the body portion and movable into and out of operative relation to the guard, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, and a lever operatively connected to the body portion and to the face plate for effecting relative movement between the two.

2. A safety razor comprising a body portion incorporating a guard at one end and a handle at the other, a face plate connected to an intermediate part of the body portion and movable into and out of operative relation to the guard, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, and a lever swingably connected to the body portion and operatively connected to the face plate for moving the latter.

3. A safety razor comprising a body portion incorporating a guard at one end and a handle at the other, a face plate non-detachably and movably connected to an intermediate part of the body portion and shiftable into and out of operative relation to the guard, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, a lever swingably connected to the body portion in the region of the latters connection with the face plate, and connections between the lever and face plate whereby the latter is moved by means of the former.

4. A safety razor comprising a body member, a guard carried by one end thereof, the opposite end portion of the body member constituting a handle, an element slidably and swingably connected to the body member intermediate the guard and handle and incorporating a face plate, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, and a lever operatively connected to the body member and element whereby the latter is moved longitudinally of the body member and is swung with respect thereto when said lever is actuated.

5. A safety razor comprising a body member, a guard carried by one end thereof, the opposite end portion of the body member constituting a handle, an element slidably and swingably connected to the body member intermediate the guard and handle and incorporating a face plate, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, a lever pivoted to the body member in the region of the latters connection with the aforesaid element, and connections between the lever and element whereby the latter is moved longitudinally of the body member and is swung with respect thereto when said lever is actuated.

6. A safety razor comprising a body member, a guard carried by one end thereof, a fulcrum on the body member, said fuicrumbeing elongated in a direction substantially longitudinally of said member, an element having a keyhole slot through which said fulcrum extends thereby to permit said member to slide when the fulcrum is in the restricted portion of the slot and to swing with respect to the body member when the fulcrum occupies the enlarged end of said slot, a lever operatively connected to the body member and to said element whereby the element is slid and swung when the lever is actuated, a face plate incorporated in the element, and a blade adapted to be clamped between the face plate and guard.

7. A safety razor comprising a body'rnember, a

guard carried by one end thereof, a fulcrum on the body member, said fulcrum being elongated in a direction substantially longitudinally of said member, an element having a keyhole slot through which said fulcrum extends thereby to permit-said element'to slide when the fulcrum is in therestricted portion of the slot and to swing with respect to the body member when the fulcrum 0ccupies the enlarged end of said slot, a lever pivoted to the body member, and link connections between the lever and said element whereby the latter is slid and swung when the lever is'actuated, face plate incorporated in the element, and a blade adapted to be clamped between the face plate and guard.

8. A safety razor comprising an elongated body memb r, a guard carried by one end thereoffa yoke like structure having opposed branches disposed on opposite sides of the body member, a face plate incorporated in said structure, a blade adapted to be disposed between the faceplate and guard, said opposed branches having circular bearing apertures in their inner ends and parallei-sided slots extending outwardly therefrom substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure, a lever pivoted to the body member, and links having one of their ends pivoted'to an end of the lever and their opposite ends pivoted to the branches of the aforesaid structure adjacent to and laterally of said bearing apertures, a straight line connecting the pivots of the links and swinging through and beyond the pivotal axis of the lever when the parts are moved to normal position.

9. A safety razor comprising an elongated body member, a guard carried by one end thereof, a yoke like structure having opposed branches arranged on opposite sides of the body member,'a face plate incorporated in said structure, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, the inner ends of the branches of said yoke like structure having circular bearing apertures and parallel-sided slots extending outwardly from said apertures substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the structure, oblong fulcrums carried by the body portion for engagement within the bearing apertures and slots, the principal axis of said fulcrums being substantially equal to the diameter of the bearing apertures and the minor axis thereof corresponding substantially to the Width of said slots, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the body member, and links pivotally connected at their opposite ends respectively to one end of the lever and to the inner ends of the branches of the yoke like structure adjacent to and laterally of the bearing apertures.

10. A safety razor comprising an elongated body member, a guard carried by one end thereof, a yoke like structure having opposed branches arranged on opposite sides of the body member, a face plate incorporated in said structure, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, the inner ends of the branches of said yoke like structure having circular bearing apertures and parallel-sided slots extending outwardly from said apertures substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the structure, oblong fulcrums carried by the body portion for engagement Within the bearing apertures and slots, the principal axis of said fulcrums beingsubstantially cqual to the diameter of the bearing apertures and theminor axis thereof corresponding substantially to the width of said slots, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the body member, and links pivotally connected at their opposite ends respectively to one end of the lever and to the inner ends of the branches of the yoke like structure adjacent to and laterally of the bearing apertures, the lever and yoke like structure having parts which cooperate to maintain the yoke like structure inward with the face plate in clamping relation to the guard when the parts are in normal position.

11. A safety razor comprising an elongated body member having oblong parallel sided studs projecting from its opposite sides intermediate its ends, the principal axis of said studs being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member, a guard carried by one end of the body memher, a yoke like structure having opposed branches arranged on opposite sides of the body member, said branches having circular bearing apertures adjacent their inner ends for the reception of the aforesaid studs and being provided with parallel-sided slots leading outwardly from said apertures substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the structure, the principal axis of the studs being substantially equal to the diameter of the bearing apertures and the minor axis of the studs being substantially equal to the width of the slots, pivot members carried by the branches of the yoke like structure adjacent to and laterally of said bearing apertures, a lever consisting of side plates that are disposed on opposite sides of the body member and an actuating part connecting said side plates at one end, pivot means connecting the side plates of the lever to the body mem er intermediate the ends of the lever, links pivotally connected to the ends of the opposed side plates of the lever opposite the actuating member and having their opposite ends engaged with the pivot members on the yoke like structure, the side plates of the lever having partsarranged to engage said pivot members when the parts are in normal position, and a hollow handle applied to the inner end of the body member and having opposed extensions that enclose the links and lever when in normal position.

1'. A safety razor comprising a body member, a guard carried by the outer end of the body member, a yoke like structure including a face plate for cooperation with the outer side of the guard and having side branches extending from the ends of the face plate inwardly about the ends of the guard and whose inner ends are engaged upon opposite sides of the body member, the inner ends of said branches having bearing apertures and guide slots extending therefrom, fulcrums extending from the body member for engagement within said apertures and slots, pivots projecting outwardly from said branches and spaced laterally of said apertures, a lever consisting of opposed side plates disposed on opposite sides of the body member and being pivoted thereto intermediate their ends, links having apertures in one end that are engaged with the aforesaid pivots and having pivotal connection at their opposite ends with the ends of the side plates of the lever, the ends of said plates remote therefrom being connected together by a finger piece, said side plates having notches for engagement over the aforesaid pivots, and ahollow handle applied to the inner end of the body portion and having portions extending over and concealing the links and adjacent portions of thelever and yoke when the parts are in normal condition.

13. A safety razor comprising a body member having a relatively thick portion at one end and a portion of lesser thickness at the other end that is disposed within the central plane of the thick portion, a guard carried by the outer end of the portion of lesser thickness, a yoke like structure including a face plate for cooperation with the outer side of the guard and having side branches extending from the ends of the face plate inwardly about the ends of the guard and whose inner ends are engaged upon opposite sides of the reduced end of the body member, the outer surfaces of said branches being substantially flush with the corresponding surfaces of the thicker portion of the body member, the inner ends of said branches having bearing apertures and guide slots extending therefrom, fulcrums extending from the body member for engagement within said apertures and slots, pivots projecting outwardly from said branches and spaced laterally of said apertures, said pivots having heads adjacent the branches and bearing portions therebeyond, a lever consisting of opposed side plates disposed on opposite sides of the thicker portion of the body member and being pivoted thereto intermediate their ends, links having apertures in one end that are engaged with the bearing portions of the aforesaid pivots and having pivotal connection at their opposite ends with the ends of the side plates of the lever, the ends of said plates remote therefrom being connected together by a finger piece, said side plates having notches for engagement over the heads of the pivots, and a hollow handle applied to the inner end of the body portion and having portions extending over and concealing the links and adjacent portions of the lever and yoke when the parts are in normal condition.

14. A safety razor comprising two units, one consisting of a body portion and the other consisting of an element including a faceplate, a guard slidable longitudinally of the body portion but non-rotatable with respect thereto, the aforesaid element being movably connected to the body portion so that the face plate may be moved toward and from the guard, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, a lever pivoted to one of the units and having operative connection with the other whereby the units may be relatively shifted through a given range of movement, and means for adjusting the guard longitudinally of the body portion.

15. A safety razor comprising two units, one consisting of a body portion and the other consisting of an element including a face plate, a guard slidable longitudinally of the body portion but non-rotatable with respect thereto, the aforesaid element being movably connected to the body portion so that the face plate may be moved toward and from the guard, a blade adapted to be disposed between the face plate and guard, a lever pivoted to one of the units and having operative connection with the other whereby the units may be relatively shifted through a given range of movement, and an adjustment consisting of a screw extending lengthwise of the body portion and operatively connected to the guard for shifting the guard thereby to vary the distance between it and the face plate.

LEE S. CHADWICK. 

